I've never been asked to identify the "type" of learner that I am before. I just "learn," because that was simply what I was supposed to do. After learning so much about open mindsets and deep learning, I have found that there is definitely a difference between the kind of learner that I am and the kind of learner that I want to become. In high school, my future remained a blur. I went through the motions of learning and studying simply because that is what I was told to do. Up until now, I have learned what the textbook said, what the teacher said we needed to know for the test, and what the SATs tested me on. Sometimes I enjoyed the subject, other times I got bored. Yet, I did it all, because I knew that sooner or later, that information would reappear on a test or quiz, and that I was going to need to know it if I wanted to get that "A." To some extent, my grades helped to define me. They characterized me as an intelligent, hard-worker. I learned because it was a social norm, and everyone else was going to school and trying to get good grades. Now, looking back, I see that there is a problem with that. I need a deeper motive for learning.
So now, as a freshman in college, I am trying to pinpoint my motive for learning. Why am I even here? Well, the general idea of college is to prepare people for an occupation later in life, or to help build up our resumes so that we can someday get a job, work, and support ourselves as well as our families. I am here at URI as an elementary education major, and I am determined to become a deeper learner so that I can use the knowledge that I acquire here and apply it to my future. I want to learn as much as I can, so that I can pass it on to future generations. When my kids ask me questions, I want to be able to give them a solid answer. I want to be able to prepare all of my future students for their own lives, and I want them to feel passionate about their own learning, not just go through the motions. The harder that I work in school, and even outside of school, the more knowledge I am going to acquire, and the more knowledge I am going to be able to pass on.
There is so much that this world that people have learned, and so much more to be discovered. There is something that interests everyone, and there is always somewhere that I can make a difference. I want to be a deep learner, the kind of learner that looks deeper into sentences filled with information and tries to apply them to my own life. It could be something as little as reading about an inspiring historical figure, analyzing his or her mindset, and trying to apply that same outlook to my own life. We can learn from the mistakes in history, and build off of the successes. Its not enough to focus on the dates of that person's death so that I know them for my exam. I need to ask myself "Why is this person so important?" and "Why did my teacher assign us this reading?" If I really want to get anything out of it, I need to ask questions beyond the reading, and apply it to myself in a way that will make a difference in my own life. Then, I can share my insights with others, and try to make a difference in their lives as well.
In summary, I want to be the kind of learner that seeks purpose in everything. Facts are facts, and they need to be memorized too. However, I have often found myself stopping there in the past, and then forgetting those facts after the teat. I don't want to do that anymore. I want to ask myself deeper questions, and then discuss them with others. There is so much more to something than what you see at first glance. If I can find meaning in everything that I am presented with, I am going to be able to use that information to enhance my own life, and eventually shine that light on others as well.
So now, as a freshman in college, I am trying to pinpoint my motive for learning. Why am I even here? Well, the general idea of college is to prepare people for an occupation later in life, or to help build up our resumes so that we can someday get a job, work, and support ourselves as well as our families. I am here at URI as an elementary education major, and I am determined to become a deeper learner so that I can use the knowledge that I acquire here and apply it to my future. I want to learn as much as I can, so that I can pass it on to future generations. When my kids ask me questions, I want to be able to give them a solid answer. I want to be able to prepare all of my future students for their own lives, and I want them to feel passionate about their own learning, not just go through the motions. The harder that I work in school, and even outside of school, the more knowledge I am going to acquire, and the more knowledge I am going to be able to pass on.
There is so much that this world that people have learned, and so much more to be discovered. There is something that interests everyone, and there is always somewhere that I can make a difference. I want to be a deep learner, the kind of learner that looks deeper into sentences filled with information and tries to apply them to my own life. It could be something as little as reading about an inspiring historical figure, analyzing his or her mindset, and trying to apply that same outlook to my own life. We can learn from the mistakes in history, and build off of the successes. Its not enough to focus on the dates of that person's death so that I know them for my exam. I need to ask myself "Why is this person so important?" and "Why did my teacher assign us this reading?" If I really want to get anything out of it, I need to ask questions beyond the reading, and apply it to myself in a way that will make a difference in my own life. Then, I can share my insights with others, and try to make a difference in their lives as well.
In summary, I want to be the kind of learner that seeks purpose in everything. Facts are facts, and they need to be memorized too. However, I have often found myself stopping there in the past, and then forgetting those facts after the teat. I don't want to do that anymore. I want to ask myself deeper questions, and then discuss them with others. There is so much more to something than what you see at first glance. If I can find meaning in everything that I am presented with, I am going to be able to use that information to enhance my own life, and eventually shine that light on others as well.